Boards of trustees in social sphere: practice, problems, prospects

Abstract

The paper discusses current situation, practices, problems and prospects for the development of guardianship boards, one of the forms of citizen participation in public services (education, health, social services, culture) in Russia. Activities of guardianship boards, their functions and usefulness, barriers for development and relevancy of further expansion of this form of citizen participation were analyzed. Field work including interviewing of heads of public services organizations and members of boards was conducted in August 2013. Main results of the study are as following: adequate development of guardianship boards is hindered by lack of common understanding of their goals and objectives, differences from other forms of citizen participation, low awareness of citizens and unwillingness to become constant donor for not sufficiently financed public services as well as low interest in receiving one more external inspector on the part of budget-funded entities themselves. However, regardless of difficulties, the majority of respondents speak up for the further development of guardianship boards as promising institute for citizen participation in public services.